01/01 John 17:19-20
And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.
FOCUS
You are the focus of the Christ. Jesus loves us. As you begin the new year remember that Jesus is at work thinking about you, remembering you and seeking your best good. Rejoice for we have a mighty Savior!
01/02 John 17:21-23
My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father — that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are — I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.
FILLED
Jesus is more concerned for us than we are for ourselves. He knows what we need and is busy providing for our needs. He wants to be a part of all that we do. He is willing to listen to us as we detail our life and needs. He will be patient with our incessant pleas. He will fix our character. He will heal us from our sin. Jesus is alive and He wants to live in us.
01/03 John 17:24-26
Father, I want these whom you’ve given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began! “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them.”
FORTH-RIGHT
Jesus speaks so that we understand. His words come from the very essence of life-for He is life and light for sin weary lives. As the new year continues to unfold spend time with Jesus. He will spend time with you. He knows all about you. He knows your needs. Ask Him and trust His answer.
01/04 John 18:1-3
After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had gone there many times with his disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a battalion of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.
EVIL
Evil is always afoot. Swirling around our lives is a foulness of evil that we too often miss. Time in prayer with Jesus will keep us on the right path. Obedience to Christ will clearly mark our path and we will not be overwhelmed by the trickery of the enemy. We are at war with this world, the things of this world and need Christ to guide our path.
01/05 John 18:4-5
Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him. Stepping forward to meet them, he asked, “Whom are you looking for?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. Judas was standing there with them when Jesus identified himself.
YES
Jesus answers us with YES. Yes He will save us. Yes He will listen to us. Yes we belong to Him and nothing can separate us from His love. Yes we are complete in Christ. Yes our life is going to work out well. Yes He is looking for us and looking out for us. Jesus is Lord
01/06 John 18:6-7
And as he said, “I am he,” they all fell backward to the ground! Once more he asked them, “Whom are you searching for?” And again they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
CHRIST
The Christ came into the world that mankind might be saved. He didn’t try to duck His assignment and He trusted the Father absolutely. His obedience to the Father is a wonderful example for us. His walk is the path for us. His life is the key for us to appropriate a Godly lifestyle. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and will one day soon return for His children.
01/07 John 18:8-9
“I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I have not lost a single one of those you gave me.”
ALWAYS
Jesus is always looking out for us. It is important for us to spend time with Him so that He can direct our path. Many heartaches and hurts could be avoided if we took everything to the Lord in prayer.
01/08 John 18:10-11
Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup the Father has given me?”
OBEDIENCE
Even unto death Jesus was obedient to the Father. He knew why He came to Earth. His walk was a walk of complete obedience to the Father. He endured the pain and the ignominy that His obedience brought. He never wavered. His life was a perfect life lived by one like us yet at the same time fully God. Jesus Christ is King of all things and Lord of life.
01/09 John 18:12-13
So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they took him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
FOOLISH
The priests and other religious leaders were the wise of Israel. They were the lovers of God. But their love had been derailed by sin. In their sin they did not recognize the One that they claimed to follow. All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
01/10 John 18:14
Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “Better that one should die for all.”
JESUS
Unknowingly the Jewish leaders had surrendered themselves to Satan. They thought they were in control when in fact they were simply actors on the stage of human history. The activity was totally under the Father’s control. Do not be mislead, God is in Control.
01/11 John 18:15-17
Simon Peter followed along behind, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the courtyard with Jesus. Peter stood outside the gate. Then the other disciple spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ disciples?””No,” he said, “I am not.”
NO
No was a word that reverberated throughout the rest of Peter’s life. The question from Jesus to Peter was Peter do you love me? Our love is expressed in the way we deal with others, especially those that mistreat us. Must I minister to the unlovely, the poor, the widow, the outcast? The answer is YES. Don’t let NO trip up your ministry. As you are given chances to minister to others take it and do it.
01/12 John 18:18
The guards and the household servants were standing around a charcoal fire they had made because it was cold. And Peter stood there with them, warming himself.
PETER
Have you ever boasted about something and later wish you hadn’t. Peter was near where they were beating Jesus. He knew it was only going to get worse. When asked if he was a follower his fear encouraged him to lie and he did. Three times Peter lied. It was a bitter pill to swallow. Proud, courageous, boastful Peter was a fraud. Have you ever felt that way? Go to Jesus. Confess your sin. Ask HIM to renew your strength and get you back on the right path.
01/13 John 18:19-21
Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. Jesus replied, “What I teach is widely known, because I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple. I have been heard by people everywhere, and I teach nothing in private that I have not said in public. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”
RESPONSE
Jesus responded to the question in a kind and truthful way. He knew what He would face and His strength came from the Father. Even when He was prodded He didn’t strike back. His grace and mercy are beyond comprehension. He is a model for us to imitate.
01/14 John 18:22-23
One of the Temple guards standing there struck Jesus on the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded. Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must give evidence for it. Should you hit a man for telling the truth?”
TRUTH
The world does not recognize nor does it accept spiritual truth. The Spiritual Leadership of Israel was standing before the Lord and they did not know it. Be careful how you deal with truth. Remember to apply spiritual truth to your self first and be hesitant to judge someone else.
01/15 John 18:24
Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.
LIE
Each person involved in the persecution and subsequent death on the cross of Jesus was promulgating a lie. They did not care about the truth they only were interested in an outcome that they could manage. There was no faith. There was no fairness. Tragically we think that those people 2,000 years ago were so evil and yet even today we would do the same thing. Why, because it was sin that killed Jesus on the cross and we continue to sin to this very day. We must look to ourselves when we deal with sin.
01/16 John 18:25
Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire, they asked him again, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?””I am not,” he said.
FEAR
Fear makes us stupid. Peter loved Jesus and yet here he was a second time denying Jesus. There is no fear in God and we can live a life without fear. If we have come to Christ in faith and believe that He has saved us we can live with confidence that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ.
01/17 John 18:26-27
But one of the household servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
DENIAL
Do we do the same thing? We promise Jesus that we aren’t going to do that thing that we do over and over again and then we do it. At the time we are moving along our merry way but then the conviction of sin sets in and we realize that we have done it again. Lord help me with my unbelief and evil ways.
01/18 John 18:28
Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go in themselves because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover feast.
FOOLISH
Foolish leaders focused on things and not people. People count first with God. Too often in the activities of man things become the focus. God calls us to love the Lord with all of our heart and our neighbor as ourselves. Just like the world today this was all about power and control and Jesus was evil’s pawn so evil thought. In truth God was providing for our forgiveness in the midst of this evil persecution and trial.
01/19 John 18:29-32
So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?” “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted. “Then take him away and judge him by your own laws,” Pilate told them. “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.
CROSS
The cross was the preferred way the Romans executed someone. It was cruel and painful and totally debased the individual. Evil wanted the most horrible way possible to destroy the Christ, the Messiah. The Lord redeemed what we could not imagine being redeemable. Jesus is Lord.
01/20 John 18:33-35
Then Pilate went back inside and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the King of the Jews?” he asked him. Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate asked. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you here. Why? What have you done?”
PILATE
Pilate was mean, evil, wicked and bad. There was no compassion in his heart. He cared little for the Jewish leaders but was in a tense relationship with Rome therefore he acceded to their demands. There is no innocence here. Evil is alive and well on Planet Earth. You should know that in your journey you may run into pure evil. When you do RUN for you cannot bargain with evil.
01/21 John 18:36
Then Jesus answered, “I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”
JESUS
Jesus knew why He came and what He was supposed to do. How about your life? Have you come to grips with your life goal? Are you letting daily problems distract you? Keep your focus on Jesus and you will hear Him as He guides your every step.
01/22 John 18:37
Pilate replied, “You are a king then?” “You say that I am a king, and you are right,” Jesus said. “I was born for that purpose. And I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
BIBLE
The Bible reveals God’s truth to us. The Holy Spirit galvanizes that truth in our soul. The Lord Jesus enables us to live the truth of God. Without Him we will get off base immediately. Biblical truth without Jesus creates the Inquisition. Everything we do must be under the control of Jesus.
01/23 John 18:38-39
“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release someone from prison each year at Passover. So if you want me to, I’ll release the King of the Jews.”
EVIL
Evil comes gently and quietly into our midst. Be careful what you accept as truth. Be careful that you are not being fooled by its offer. Do the next right thing. Pilate was committing the evil and acting as though he had nothing to do with it.
01/24 John 18:40
But they shouted back, “No! Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a criminal.)
CROWD
Those that were members of the crowd were foolishly manipulated as though they were not individually responsible for the group decision. We cannot avoid the guilt of complicity with evil by melting into a group. It was the group that did it, etc. You and I did it. We accused Him and condemned Him. Out of our sin we met the limitless love of God in Jesus for the Father raised Him from the dead defeating death and providing life for us.
01/25 John 19: 1-2
Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they put a royal purple robe on him.
JESUS
He could have called a legion of angels but He didn’t. He knew the suffering we go through because of our sin and He chose to take our stripes, our pain and give us life. His choice-our blessing.
01/26 John 19: 3-4
“Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, and they hit him with their fists. Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.”
JESUS
Claiming that he wasn’t guilty when it was his responsibility did not relieve Pilate of his guilt. You too cannot avoid responsibility for your acts by claiming I didn’t choose. The truth is we either choose to follow Jesus or failing to choose we have chosen not to follow Jesus. There is no middle road in eternity.
01/27 John 19:5-6
Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Here is the man!” When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify! Crucify!””You crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”
CONDEMNED
They thought they were condemning Jesus to death. His death under the power of God became life. Satan was defeated. We are given the opportunity to choose life. We can choose to follow Jesus and follow Him or we can choose to go our own way. Following Jesus results in an eternal relationship.
01/28 John 19:7-9
The Jewish leaders replied, “By our laws he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer.
WHERE?
Do you know Jesus? Do you know that some people don’t even want to know Jesus, in fact more than half of the world population doesn’t know Jesus. Pilate was always trying to stay on the right side of power. He was nervous about Rome since they had called him home twice to lecture him on the way he ran his business. His concern I think was who Jesus knew in Rome or was he related to someone that could get him, Pilate, in trouble with Rome. Jesus is from God, fully God and fully man, the eternal Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
01/29 John 19:10
“You won’t talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or to crucify you?”
POWER
Pilate thought he was in control, that Rome was the real power in this world. The real power is God. God was at work in Christ to provide for reconciliation with a dead, lost world. Jesus is the real Lord. Rome was passing away.
01/30 John 19:11-12
Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who brought me to you has the greater sin.” Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders told him, “If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”
JESUS
The real power is Christ. Jesus is able to do whatever we need to bring us to the Father. His grace is sufficient. We live under His grace and mercy. We live because we have been born again by the power of God. Our life belongs to Christ. Remember as you go through this day that Jesus is standing with you so that you might have an abundant life.
01/31 John 19:13-15
When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was now about noon of the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Here is your king!” “Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him — crucify him!””What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.”We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.
GUILTY
People are guilty of their sin. Without Jesus we are dead in our trespasses and sin. Without Jesus there is no forgiveness of sin. You cannot reason your way into God’s Kingdom. You cannot work your way into God’s Kingdom. The only way to the Father is through Jesus.
